No. 1 is easy; it’s just a matter of how bullheaded opposing coaches want to be.

No. 2 isn’t easy, because Stanford is smart and physical and has some ball hawkers.

No. 3 isn’t easy either, although the key to containing Gerhart is limiting his long runs more than his total yardage. (You can’t let him bust 30-yarders because the impact it has on field position.)

In theory, being successful with 2 and 3 would force Stanford to drive the ball long distances and do it 5-6 yards at a time, which would, in turn, force Andrew Luck to make some difficult throws.

(Luck has done a fine job managing games and limiting mistakes, but he hasn’t been in very many tough situations thanks to Stanford’s running game and the porous defenses he’s faced.)

But here’s the question: How many teams can accomplish No. 1, 2 and 3? We’ll find out over the next two months, I suppose.

If you contain Gerhart and and can move the ball through the air, you’re going to give the Cardinal trouble — the secondary remains the weak link.

But if you can’t do both, you’re in trouble.

Record: 3-1

Result: Beat Washington 34-14

Grade: A

Comment: One of the finest wins of the Harbaugh era — not as stunning as USC or Cal in ’07 but one of the best nonetheless. I’d put it No. 3 because:

It was an important game against a capable team.

The Cardinal was efficient and had contributions from all three units.

I was especially impressed with the defensive line, which generated consistent pressure on Jake Locker — with or without the help of a blitz. The tackles collapsed the pocket and the ends did their job with containment/rush angles.

That prevented Locker from getting outside with open field ahead of him. He was, instead, funneled into the collapsing interior line.

Next up: vs. UCLA

Comment: The Bruins are coming off a bye and will bring the best defense Stanford has faced (by a factor of 10), but they aren’t a juggernaut offensively and probably will be without starting QB Kevin Prince.

(The expected starter is Kevin Craft, who played one of his best games of ’08 against Stanford, with 285 yards and a game-winning drive.)

Jon Wilner

Post navigation

I think Stanford beats Notre Dame. Anything can happen in the Cal game. If Oregon continues to play the way they did last Saturday then they roll Stanford and are the Pac-10 Rose Bowl team.

Vintage Cal

While Stanfurd fan is adjusting preseason expectations upwards, I’m sticking with my original forecast. Remember, I told you Stanfurd would be 3-1 after 4 games. I even said the loss would be to Wake Forest. I then said Stanford would lose their final 8 games to finish 3-9.

Gonna prove me wrong Furdies?

StanTheMan

I’ll still take 6 wins and ANY bowl bid. OSU, UofA, and ASU are NOT LAYUPS by any stretch, and the schedule gets tougher from there.

This team has the potential to win 9 games, but it also has the potential to win 4 or 5.

Would be very happy if we went into the ND game 6-5.

Vintage Cal

If Stanford has the potential to win 9 games, yet only wins 5, I’d say the team didn’t live up to its potential. No waffling!

Cardinal Roses

Last Week from Wilner, “I could see Stanford …Beating Washington and UCLA … and then winning at either OSU or Arizona … and sitting at 4-1 in league play with Arizona State coming to town. A win there or against Oregon pushes the Cardinal to 5-2 … or maybe Stanford wins both and is 6-1 … and suddenly it’s the most meaningful November on The Farm since 1999.”

WILNER – YOU’RE PROPHETIC. The rest of us needed to first see Stanford beat Washington until we believed. But now we’re with you. The Stanford Cardinal are Rose Bowl Contenders!

TheFarm99

To VC: Prove you wrong? How do you want us to prove you wrong? Are you calling out the people who post on this blog to go and win the games? What a silly post.

Now, if you want to make a wager on whether or not Stanford will lose its final 8 games, I’d be more than willing to take you on. If you want to put your money where your mouth is, I’d have not issue taking candy from a baby weenie.

Stanford Yapping

Vintage will be proven wrong after this Saturday.

Ucla: 10
Stanford: 27

Bet it! Take money from both Vegas and the Weenies.

NorCal Tree

Vintage cal = Very clueless!
Many of us also predicted 3-1 at this point, but 8 straight losses…you’re not biased. I’m sure you also predicted last weekend’s debacle for your bears?! Stanford stadium will be louder and more full this weekend. As for your marketing comments, word of mouth is the best marketing – so Farm is doing his share. We brought in 30 people last weekend from the neighborhood that don’t have Stanford ties. That’s the way it’s done…one game and one person/family at a time. We don’t have the massive alumni numbers ucb does and most of those stay here. They just don’t give back to their school very well…

Meanwhile, your fellow weenie alums are calling for Tedford’s head – LOL! Another 50 year wait for you poor souls – kal karma!

My-Low – We Wilt!

PapaBear

I’m laughing with you, NorCalTree. Talk about Bay Area extremists. Crazy Cal fans are calling for Tedford’s head, while drunken Stanford fans are bathing in roses.

Let’s see what dip & turn this emotional roller coaster takes after this Saturday.

harold

Leftcoast, I’m curious about your comments about night starts. Do you believe the new stadium is hotter than the old one? 12:30 p.m. games there in September and early October could also be pretty uncomfortable. I’ve been to the new place for only one game, very late in the season, so I’ve no way to judge.

Leftcoast

Hi Harold –

There were a few September games the previous two years which were just plain miserable – UCLA and Oregon in 2007 come to mind. It certainly FELT hotter than the old stadium but I’m not sure why – could be reflection off the aluminum seats, reduced circulation in the stadium or even the old berm had some cooling impact.

The noticeable changes were sunnyside folks migrated to the concourse and shadyside, Harbaugh moved the team to the shadyside, student attendance plumetted and then rose when reseated. Finally, the AD acted by moving home games to later start times for the month of September.

I like the new times – in addition to the climate they’re very family friendly and the stadium shows well under the lights. I understand some traditionalists want the old 12:30/1:00 back though.

Of course, arguing from a small sample size of five (or so) games and fan impressions (unsubstantiated) in a miniscule 3 year span is statistically unsupportable. Feel free to disagree but “the wok” is a name that sort of caught on for those of us who got the full force of those September games!

Leftcoast

By the way, I’m sure there are some other readers that were there for those games. I’d be curious to hear their impression. How’d the sunnyside feel for those 95+ degree September games.

It was a hot day last Saturday and would have been miserable at 1:00 but by the 6:00 UW game time it was very pleasant in the stadium.

NorCal Tree

Leftcoast,
I totally agree with you in liking the later starts. It’s more family friendly given the busy Saturday sports schedule for many (Soccer, Fall Ball, Lacrosse, water polo, etc..). I was at a number of those hot September games in the new and the old stadium. We sat on the new sunny side with kids and it was a roaster. The construction can turn that upper level into a convection oven when it’s hot. I don’t think we’ll have that issue this weekend and the fans for both Stanford and ucla will be out in force. I’ve seen two UCLA tailgate posts for the peninsula already! Here’s to a great game.

PBear – Agree that we have craziness on both sides. Tedford’s Head and Stanford Roses – we are not even half way through the season, people.
Farm – you did call it last week!!

Alex

Stanford fans… PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE stop talking about roses… we need to be thinking about making it to a bowl game period. Beating UCLA this weekend would be a huge step in that regard. UCLA is no joke — as many have pointed out, they’ve got a darn fast defense that will give Luck trouble if we have to start relying too heavily on the passing game. UCLA’s offense may not be quite as strong, but with Stanford’s relatively weak secondary, I think Craft’s passing could be a liability as well. I really want to win this one as payback for last year — lets not jinx it with crazy talk.

Robber Baron

I’m calling Stanford High Life out as a troll.

UCLA is by far the toughest team we’ve faced so far. Folks who have already penciled in a win, UCLA has beaten TENNESSEE! I’m not sure whether the bye will help or hurt them. It usually helps if a team has a lot of injuries. It hurts if a team has great momentum.

Given Stanford’s physical defense, excellent special teams, and great running game, I’m very optimistic, but I can also see a blowout loss.

And folks talking about how Bay Area fortunes have reversed, a Cal win of any sort, and a big Stanford loss puts everything back to where it was at the beginning of the season.

Robber Baron

This Stanford fan’s hope for the season:

Getting to ANY bowl, and beating at least one of Cal, Notre Dame, and USC.

Stanford Family

RB & others:

Stop with the negative vibes and defeatest posts. You have to aim high to achieve greatness. Do you think that Coach Harbaugh is williing to settle for the Pointsettia Bowl? Hoping to win one of the final three is not the Stanford way. Especially with two of the games at home.

Embrace the team’s success and encourage them to even greater things. Go Cardinal! Any bowl isn’t good enough. Chase the Rose Bowl dream!